CHAPTER 12: An Overview of the Potential Applications of TiO₂ Photocatalysis for Food Packaging, Medical Implants, and Chemical Compound Delivery

This chapter present three potential applications related to safety and health: food packaging; osseointegration and disinfection of medical implants; and controlled delivery of chemical compounds. Regarding food packaging, the favourable effects of TiO₂ incorporation in polymer films on microorganism inactivation, and decreases in oxygen and ripening-promoting ethene concentrations, have been demonstrated. The main barrier to implementation seems to be the concern about the possible release of TiO₂ particles. Titanium, a common component of medical implants, is readily covered by layers of Ti oxides, including TiO₂ which can additionally be deposited. These oxides improve osseointegration, which is increased by pre-UV-irradiation. Furthermore, successful preoperative disinfection of the implants via UV-irradiation, taking advantage of bacteria inactivation and biofilm adhesion due to photo-excited TiO₂, is of high interest because prevention of bacterial infections is obviously a major issue. Photo-excited TiO₂ could be used for controlled delivery of chemical compounds (e.g., drugs, personal care products, insecticides, etc.) that can be either directly attached to TiO₂ via a coupling agent designed to be broken on UV-irradiation or contained in microcapsules made of polymers easily degradable by photocatalysis. However, this application is still at the research stage because of many remaining issues.